Looking back at the 2002 expansion draft: Texans’ first picks set the stage

Aaron Glenn already had made it on the biggest stage of all, playing in an AFC Championship Game and earning two trips to the Pro Bowl as a New York Jet. But ask him to choose the most electrifying moment of his 15-year NFL career and he starts talking about a second-quarter interception he made Sept. 8, 2002.

After he had been tackled, Glenn remembers jumping to his feet and holding the football aloft, his way of telling the fans, “This one’s for you!” The jubilant Reliant Stadium crowd exploded as if their new Texans were about to win the Super Bowl.

How perfect in every way was that pick? Glenn, who grew up in Aldine, attending Nimitz High School before starring at Texas A&M, had returned to help Houston celebrate a fresh start in the NFL. Against once-long odds, the city was back in the game after being jilted by the Oilers, and now a familiar face had come up with the franchise’s historic first turnover, setting up the field goal that gave the Texans a 10-0 lead en route to a 19-10 victory.

Over the Dallas Cowboys.

“I’d never heard noise like that,” Glenn said. “I can’t even begin to tell you how good it felt.”

Although he had been the third of 19 veterans the Texans plucked from the NFL expansion draft, Glenn was the first chosen who make a significant contribution to the Texans’ cause. The No. 1 pick — Jacksonville’s All-Pro offensive tackle Tony Boselli — never suited up for Houston, and the No. 2 — offensive tackle Ryan Young — started only eight games before bad knees ended his career.
Missing on Boselli

Bothered by chronic shoulder pain and weakness, Boselli had been declared medically fit to continue his career as a Texan. Understandably, bringing up his name to then-general manager Charley Casserly is guaranteed to still get a rise. Asked last week about this permanently sore subject, Casserly said: “Talk to the two doctors. The reality was, two doctors cleared him. They assured us he was OK.”

For many, the Boselli “mistake” long defined a franchise that, one fine night against the Cowboys notwithstanding, eventually set a dubious record for futility, needing 10 interminable seasons to advance to the playoffs. But it’s unfair to harshly judge the Texans’ entire body of work at the George R. Brown Convention Center on Feb. 18, 2002.

Time flies … The past weekend marked the 10th anniversary of the day the Texans became a real football team, with players to go with a front office, a coaching staff and a mascot with a bull‘s head.

Despite his local roots, Glenn was much more than a sentimental choice. Already an eight-year veteran, he had plenty left in the tank as his five interceptions that first season proved. So did defensive tackle Gary Walker, another prodigal son who had begun his NFL career as an Oiler. Walker, chosen fourth, and Glenn anchored a surprisingly stout and opportunistic defense that finished in the middle of the NFL pack that inaugural season. Both went to the Pro Bowl.

The defense ranked 16th in yards allowed in 2002 and 15th in points surrendered in 2004. Only once until last fall, when Wade Phillips’ fostered the Texans near-miraculous defensive turnaround from 30th to second, did they again crack the top 20 in either category.

The debilitating counterweight in those early seasons was how frequently the David Carr-led offense was un-startable. The Texans got little from their expansion picks for that side of the ball, and they weren’t able to acquire a veteran quarterback capable of buying Carr time to mature.

“The kind of guy we wanted, a Gus Frerotte or a Charlie Batch, wouldn’t sign with us because they knew we intended to draft a quarterback,” Casserly admits. “That left us having to play David before we wanted to, before he was ready, and we didn’t have the support for him because of the situation with the tackles.

“But we built a good base on defense (from the expansion draft) and we played a lot of teams close. We had a competitive team. We stayed in most of our games.”

Youth movement fails

Well, for three seasons. But after the 2004 team went 7-9, they opted to part ways with Glenn, Coleman and Sharper, figuring the law of diminishing returns was going to kick in.

But the Texans’ youth movement failed miserably. The offense remained underwhelming and the defense completely fell apart, leading to a 2-14 nightmare that ended Dom Capers’ tenure. Kubiak was brought in to clean up the mess and Casserly stayed on through the 2006 draft, which delivered Mario Williams and DeMeco Ryans.

“I didn’t take it personally,” Glenn said of the Texans’ decision to not re-sign him, “and I definitely didn’t get any satisfaction from what happened to them. You just moved on. You learn to do that in this business.”

In the summer of 2010, Glenn signed a one-day contract in order to retire as a Texan. Now, he attends games wearing an official Texans blazer, helping give fans a tangible link to the team.

“That tells you what kind of organization this is, that they’d have a group like us,” he said. “I’ve got a lot of respect for Mr. (Texans owner Bob) McNair. It was a blessing to play here so my family and my friends could see me. I left, but I didn’t stop being a Texans fan.”

dale.robertson@chron.com

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For the fourth consecutive season, I’ve ranked the Texans’ draft choices in order. It’s easy at the bottom because there were so many disappointments – some because of injuries, some because of bad fits or bad coaching or bad systems or a combination of all. My rankings are based on where a player was drafted, what he’s accomplished as an individual and what his teams have achieved and what his potential is. Obviously, next season, the rankings will change again. -- John McClain less

For the fourth consecutive season, I’ve ranked the Texans’ draft choices in order. It’s easy at the bottom because there were so many disappointments – some because of injuries, some because of bad ... more

Photo: Karen Warren / Chronicle

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101. Sam Montgomery - OLB, Round 3, 95 overall

101. Sam Montgomery - OLB, Round 3, 95 overall

Photo: Pat Sullivan / Associated Press

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100. Charles Hill - DT, 2002, Round 3, 83 overall

100. Charles Hill - DT, 2002, Round 3, 83 overall

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99. Bennie Joppru - TE, 2003, Round 2, 41 overall

99. Bennie Joppru - TE, 2003, Round 2, 41 overall

Photo: Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle

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98. Tony Hollings - RB, 2003, Round 2, supplemental pick

98. Tony Hollings - RB, 2003, Round 2, supplemental pick

Photo: Christobal Perez / Houston Chronicle

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97. Howard Green - DT, 2002, Round 6, 190 overall

97. Howard Green - DT, 2002, Round 6, 190 overall

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96. Dave Ragone - QB, 2003, Round 3, 88 overall

96. Dave Ragone - QB, 2003, Round 3, 88 overall

Photo: Christobal Perez / Houston Chronicle

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95. Drew Henson - QB, 2003, Round 6, 192 overall

95. Drew Henson - QB, 2003, Round 6, 192 overall

Photo: Karl Stolleis / Houston Chronicle

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94. Greg White - DE, 2002, Round 7, 229 overall

94. Greg White - DE, 2002, Round 7, 229 overall

Photo: Karl Stolleis / Houston Chronicle

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93. Ahmad Miller - DT, 2002, Round 7, 261 overall

93. Ahmad Miller - DT, 2002, Round 7, 261 overall

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92. Keith Wright - DT, 2003, Round 6, 214 overall

92. Keith Wright - DT, 2003, Round 6, 214 overall

Photo: Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle

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91. Chance Pearce - C, 2003, Round 7, 233 overall

91. Chance Pearce - C, 2003, Round 7, 233 overall

Photo: Buster Dean / Houston Chronicle

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90. Curry Burns - S, 2003, Round 7, 217 overall

90. Curry Burns - S, 2003, Round 7, 217 overall

Photo: Karl Stolleis / Houston Chronicle

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89. Raheem Orr - OLB, 2004, Round 7,

89. Raheem Orr - OLB, 2004, Round 7,

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88. Alex Brink - QB, 2008, Round 7, 223 overall

88. Alex Brink - QB, 2008, Round 7, 223 overall

Photo: Julio Cortez / Houston Chronicle

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87. B.J. Symons - QB, 2004, Round 7, 248 overall

87. B.J. Symons - QB, 2004, Round 7, 248 overall

Photo: Buster Dean / Houston Chronicle

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86. Sloan Thomas - WR, 2004, Round 7, 211 overall

86. Sloan Thomas - WR, 2004, Round 7, 211 overall

Photo: Kevin Fujii / Houston Chronicle

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85. Kenneth Pettway - LB, 2005, Round 7, 277 overall

85. Kenneth Pettway - LB, 2005, Round 7, 277 overall

Photo: Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle

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84. Cheta Ozougwu - LB, 2011, Round 7, 254 overall

84. Cheta Ozougwu - LB, 2011, Round 7, 254 overall

Photo: Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle

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83. Jammal Lord - S, 2004, Round 6, 175 overall

83. Jammal Lord - S, 2004, Round 6, 175 overall

Photo: Melissa Phillip / Houston Chronicle

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82. Nick Mondek - T, 2012, Round 6, 195 overall

82. Nick Mondek - T, 2012, Round 6, 195 overall

Photo: Brett Coomer / Chronicle

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81. Vontez Duff - CB, 2004, Round 6, 170 overall

81. Vontez Duff - CB, 2004, Round 6, 170 overall

Photo: Buster Dean / Houston Chronicle

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80. Brandon Harrison - S, 2007, Round 5, 144 overall

80. Brandon Harrison - S, 2007, Round 5, 144 overall

Photo: Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle

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79. Brandon Frye - OT, 2007, Round 5, 163 overall

79. Brandon Frye - OT, 2007, Round 5, 163 overall

Photo: Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle

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78. Frank Okam - DT, 2008, Round 5, 151 overall

78. Frank Okam - DT, 2008, Round 5, 151 overall

Photo: Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle

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77. Dorin Dickerson - TE, 2010, Round 7, 227 overall

77. Dorin Dickerson - TE, 2010, Round 7, 227 overall

Photo: Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle

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76. Shelley Smith - OG, 2010, Round 6, 187 overall

76. Shelley Smith - OG, 2010, Round 6, 187 overall

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75. Anthony Hill - TE, 2009, Round 4, 122 overall

75. Anthony Hill - TE, 2009, Round 4, 122 overall

Photo: James Nielsen / Houston Chronicle

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74. Ramon Walker - S, 2002, Round 5, 153 overall

74. Ramon Walker - S, 2002, Round 5, 153 overall

Photo: Melissa Phillip / Houston Chronicle

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73. Jarrod Baxter - FB, 2002, Round 5, 136 overall

73. Jarrod Baxter - FB, 2002, Round 5, 136 overall

Photo: Karl Stolleis / Houston Chronicle

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72. Sherrick McManis - CB, 2010, Round 5, 144 overall

72. Sherrick McManis - CB, 2010, Round 5, 144 overall

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71. Fred Bennett - CB, 2007, Round 4, 123 overall

71. Fred Bennett - CB, 2007, Round 4, 123 overall

Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle

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70. Antwaun Molden - CB, 2008, Round 3, 79 overall

70. Antwaun Molden - CB, 2008, Round 3, 79 overall

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69. Rashad Carmichael, CB, 2011, Round 4, 127 overall

69. Rashad Carmichael, CB, 2011, Round 4, 127 overall

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68. Alan Bonner - WR, 2013, Round 6, 195 overall

68. Alan Bonner - WR, 2013, Round 6, 195 overall

Photo: Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle

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67. Charles Spencer - OT, 2006, Round 3, 65 overall

67. Charles Spencer - OT, 2006, Round 3, 65 overall

Photo: Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle

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66. Dominique Barber - S, Round 6, 173 overall

66. Dominique Barber - S, Round 6, 173 overall

Photo: Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle

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65. Xavier Adibi - LB, 2008, Round 4, 118 overall

65. Xavier Adibi - LB, 2008, Round 4, 118 overall

Photo: Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle

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64. Vernand Morency - RB, 2005, Round 3, 73 overall

64. Vernand Morency - RB, 2005, Round 3, 73 overall

Photo: Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle

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63. Drew Hodgdon - C, 2005, Round 5, 151 overall

63. Drew Hodgdon - C, 2005, Round 5, 151 overall

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62. Chris Jones - NT, 2013, Round 6, 198 overall

62. Chris Jones - NT, 2013, Round 6, 198 overall

Photo: Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle

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61. Trevardo Williams - OLB, 2013, Round 4, 124 overall

61. Trevardo Williams - OLB, 2013, Round 4, 124 overall

Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle

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60. Demarcus Faggins - CB, 2002, Round 6, 173 overall

60. Demarcus Faggins - CB, 2002, Round 6, 173 overall

Photo: Steve Campbell / Houston Chronicle

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59. Trindon Holliday - WR, 2010, Round 6, 197 overall

59. Trindon Holliday - WR, 2010, Round 6, 197 overall

Photo: Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle

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58. Antoine Caldwell - C, 2009, Round 3, 77 overall

58. Antoine Caldwell - C, 2009, Round 3, 77 overall

Photo: Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle

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57. Milford Brown - OG, 2002, Round 6, supplemental pick

57. Milford Brown - OG, 2002, Round 6, supplemental pick

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56. Fred Weary - OG, 2002, Round 3, 66 overall

56. Fred Weary - OG, 2002, Round 3, 66 overall

Photo: Karl Stolleis / Houston Chronicle

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55. Wali Lundy - RB, 2006, Round 6, 170 overall

55. Wali Lundy - RB, 2006, Round 6, 170 overall

Photo: Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle

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54. David Quessenberry - G, 2013, Round 6, 176 overall

54. David Quessenberry - G, 2013, Round 6, 176 overall

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53. Brennan Williams - OT, 2013, Round 3, 89 overall

53. Brennan Williams - OT, 2013, Round 3, 89 overall

Photo: Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle

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52. Kasey Studdard - OG, 2007, Round 6, 183 overall

52. Kasey Studdard - OG, 2007, Round 6, 183 overall

Photo: Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle

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51. DeVier Posey - WR, 2012, Round 3, 68 overall

51. DeVier Posey - WR, 2012, Round 3, 68 overall

Photo: Nick de la Torre / Chronicle

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50. Randy Bullock - K, 2012, Round 5, 161 overall

50. Randy Bullock - K, 2012, Round 5, 161 overall

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49. Seth Wand - OT, 2003, Round 3, 75 overall

49. Seth Wand - OT, 2003, Round 3, 75 overall

Photo: Billy Smith II / Houston Chronicle

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48. Glenn Earl - S, 2004, Round 4, 122 overall

48. Glenn Earl - S, 2004, Round 4, 122 overall

Photo: Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle

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47. Jared Crick - DE, 2012, Round 4, 126 overall

47. Jared Crick - DE, 2012, Round 4, 126 overall

Photo: Nick de la Torre / Chronicle

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46. Jonathan Wells - RB, 2002, Round 4, 99 overall

46. Jonathan Wells - RB, 2002, Round 4, 99 overall

Photo: Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle

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45. Troy Nolan - S, 2009, Round 7, 223 overall

45. Troy Nolan - S, 2009, Round 7, 223 overall

Photo: Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle

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44. Ryan Griffin - TE, 2013, Round 6, 201 overall

44. Ryan Griffin - TE, 2013, Round 6, 201 overall

Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle

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43. Antwan Peek - LB, 2003, Round 3, 67 overall

43. Antwan Peek - LB, 2003, Round 3, 67 overall

Photo: Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle

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42. Jerome Mathis - WR, 2005, Round 4, 114 overall

42. Jerome Mathis - WR, 2005, Round 4, 114 overall

Photo: Dave Einsel / Associated Press

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41. Ben Jones - C, 2012, Round 4, 99 overall

41. Ben Jones - C, 2012, Round 4, 99 overall

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40. David Anderson - WR, 2006, Round 7, 251 overall

40. David Anderson - WR, 2006, Round 7, 251 overall

Photo: Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle

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39. T.J. Yates - QB, 2011, Round 5, 152 overall

39. T.J. Yates - QB, 2011, Round 5, 152 overall

Photo: Brett Coomer / Chronicle

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38. C.C. Brown - S, 2005, Round 6, 188 overall

38. C.C. Brown - S, 2005, Round 6, 188 overall

Photo: Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle

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37. Keshawn Martin - WR, 2012, Round 4, 121 overall

37. Keshawn Martin - WR, 2012, Round 4, 121 overall

Photo: Nick de la Torre / Chronicle

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36. Brandon Harris - CB, 2011, Round 2, 60 overall

36. Brandon Harris - CB, 2011, Round 2, 60 overall

Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle

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35. Shiloh Keo - SS, 2011, Round 5, 144 overall

35. Shiloh Keo - SS, 2011, Round 5, 144 overall

Photo: Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle

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34. Zac Diles - LB, 2007, Round 7, 218 overall

34. Zac Diles - LB, 2007, Round 7, 218 overall

Photo: Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle

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33. D.J. Swearinger - SS, 2013, Round 2, 57 overall

33. D.J. Swearinger - SS, 2013, Round 2, 57 overall

Photo: Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle

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32. Darryl Sharpton - LB, 2010, Round 4, 102 overall

32. Darryl Sharpton - LB, 2010, Round 4, 102 overall

Photo: Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle

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31. Brandon Brooks - G, 2012, Round 3, 76 overall

31. Brandon Brooks - G, 2012, Round 3, 76 overall

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30. Garrett Graham - TE, 2010, Round 4, 118 overall

30. Garrett Graham - TE, 2010, Round 4, 118 overall

Photo: Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle

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29. Jason Babin - DE, 2004, Round 1, 27 overall

29. Jason Babin - DE, 2004, Round 1, 27 overall

Photo: Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle

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28. Earl Mitchell - DT, 2010, Round 3, 81 overall

28. Earl Mitchell - DT, 2010, Round 3, 81 overall

Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle

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27. Jacoby Jones- WR, 2007, Round 3, 73 overall.

27. Jacoby Jones- WR, 2007, Round 3, 73 overall.

Photo: Brett Coomer / Chronicle

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26. James Casey - TE, 2009, Round 5, 152 overall

26. James Casey - TE, 2009, Round 5, 152 overall

Photo: Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle

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25. Derek Newton, OL, 2011, Round 7, 214 overall

25. Derek Newton, OL, 2011, Round 7, 214 overall

Photo: Brett Coomer / Chronicle

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24. Steve Slaton - RB, 2008, Round 3, 89 overall

24. Steve Slaton - RB, 2008, Round 3, 89 overall

Photo: Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle

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23. David Carr - QB, 2002, Round 1, 1 overall

23. David Carr - QB, 2002, Round 1, 1 overall

Photo: Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle

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22. Travis Johnson - DT, 2005, Round 1, 16 overall

22. Travis Johnson - DT, 2005, Round 1, 16 overall

Photo: Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle

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21. Amobi Okoye - DT, 2007, Round 1, 10 overall

21. Amobi Okoye - DT, 2007, Round 1, 10 overall

Photo: Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle

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20. DeAndre Hopkins - WR, 2013, Round 1, 27 overall

20. DeAndre Hopkins - WR, 2013, Round 1, 27 overall

Photo: Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle

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19. Brice McCain - CB, 2009, Round 6, 188 overall

19. Brice McCain - CB, 2009, Round 6, 188 overall

Photo: Nick de la Torre / Houston Chronicle

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18. Ben Tate - RB, 2010, Round 2, 58 overall

18. Ben Tate - RB, 2010, Round 2, 58 overall

Photo: Nick de la Torre / Houston Chronicle

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17. Whitney Mercilus - OLB, 2012, Round 1, 26 overall

17. Whitney Mercilus - OLB, 2012, Round 1, 26 overall

Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Chronicle

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16. Domanick Davis - RB, 2003, Round 4, 101 overall

16. Domanick Davis - RB, 2003, Round 4, 101 overall

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15. Glover Quin - SS, 2009, Round 4, 112 overall

15. Glover Quin - SS, 2009, Round 4, 112 overall

Photo: Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle

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14. Brooks Reed - LB, 2011, Round 2, 42 overall

14. Brooks Reed - LB, 2011, Round 2, 42 overall

Photo: Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle

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13. Jabar Gaffney - WR, 2002, Round 2, 33 overall

13. Jabar Gaffney - WR, 2002, Round 2, 33 overall

Photo: Steve Ueckert / Houston Chronicle

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12. Dunta Robinson - CB, 2004, Round 1, 10 overall

12. Dunta Robinson - CB, 2004, Round 1, 10 overall

Photo: Nick de la Torre / Houston Chronicle

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11. Connor Barwin - LB, 2009, Round 2, 46 overall

11. Connor Barwin - LB, 2009, Round 2, 46 overall

Photo: Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle

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10. Kareem Jackson - CB, 2010, Round 1, 20 overall

10. Kareem Jackson - CB, 2010, Round 1, 20 overall

Photo: Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle

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9. Chester Pitts - OG, 2002, Round 2, 50 overall

9. Chester Pitts - OG, 2002, Round 2, 50 overall

Photo: Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle

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8. Eric Winston -- OT, Round 3, 66 overall

8. Eric Winston -- OT, Round 3, 66 overall

Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle

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7. DeMeco Ryans - LB, 2006, Round 2, 33 overall

7. DeMeco Ryans - LB, 2006, Round 2, 33 overall

Photo: Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle

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6. Brian Cushing - LB, 2009, Round 1, 15 overall

6. Brian Cushing - LB, 2009, Round 1, 15 overall

Photo: Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle

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5. Duane Brown - OT, 2008, Round 1, 26 overall

5. Duane Brown - OT, 2008, Round 1, 26 overall

Photo: Nick de la Torre / Chronicle

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4. Mario Williams - DE, 2006, Round 1, 1 overall

4. Mario Williams - DE, 2006, Round 1, 1 overall

Photo: Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle

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3. Owen Daniels - TE, 2006, round 4, 98 overall

3. Owen Daniels - TE, 2006, round 4, 98 overall

Photo: Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle

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2. J.J. Watt - DE, 2011, Round 1, 11 overall

2. J.J. Watt - DE, 2011, Round 1, 11 overall

Photo: Karen Warren / Chronicle

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1. Andre Johnson - WR, 2003, Round 1, 3 overall

1. Andre Johnson - WR, 2003, Round 1, 3 overall

Photo: Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle

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Looking back at the 2002 expansion draft: Texans' first picks set the stage